| NET Bible | New International Version |
| 1After we had safely reached shore, we learned that the island was called Malta. | 1Once safely on shore, we found out that the island was called Malta. |
| 2The local inhabitants showed us extraordinary kindness, for they built a fire and welcomed us all because it had started to rain and was cold. | 2The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold. |
| 3When Paul had gathered a bundle of brushwood and was putting it on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened itself on his hand. | 3Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. |
| 4When the local people saw the creature hanging from Paul's hand, they said to one another, "No doubt this man is a murderer! Although he has escaped from the sea, Justice herself has not allowed him to live!" | 4When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, "This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, the goddess Justice has not allowed him to live." |
| 5However, Paul shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no harm. | 5But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. |
| 6But they were expecting that he was going to swell up or suddenly drop dead. So after they had waited a long time and had seen nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god. | 6The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead; but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god. |
| 7Now in the region around that place were fields belonging to the chief official of the island, named Publius, who welcomed us and entertained us hospitably as guests for three days. | 7There was an estate nearby that belonged to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us to his home and showed us generous hospitality for three days. |
| 8The father of Publius lay sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and after praying, placed his hands on him and healed him. | 8His father was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and, after prayer, placed his hands on him and healed him. |
| 9After this had happened, many of the people on the island who were sick also came and were healed. | 9When this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured. |
| 10They also bestowed many honors, and when we were preparing to sail, they gave us all the supplies we needed. | 10They honored us in many ways; and when we were ready to sail, they furnished us with the supplies we needed. |
| 11After three months we put out to sea in an Alexandrian ship that had wintered at the island and had the "Heavenly Twins" as its figurehead. | 11After three months we put out to sea in a ship that had wintered in the island--it was an Alexandrian ship with the figurehead of the twin gods Castor and Pollux. |
| 12We put in at Syracuse and stayed there three days. | 12We put in at Syracuse and stayed there three days. |
| 13From there we cast off and arrived at Rhegium, and after one day a south wind sprang up and on the second day we came to Puteoli. | 13From there we set sail and arrived at Rhegium. The next day the south wind came up, and on the following day we reached Puteoli. |
| 14There we found some brothers and were invited to stay with them seven days. And in this way we came to Rome. | 14There we found some brothers and sisters who invited us to spend a week with them. And so we came to Rome. |
| 15The brothers from there, when they heard about us, came as far as the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns to meet us. When he saw them, Paul thanked God and took courage. | 15The brothers and sisters there had heard that we were coming, and they traveled as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. At the sight of these people Paul thanked God and was encouraged. |
| 16When we entered Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with the soldier who was guarding him. | 16When we got to Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with a soldier to guard him. |
| 17After three days Paul called the local Jewish leaders together. When they had assembled, he said to them, "Brothers, although I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our ancestors, from Jerusalem I was handed over as a prisoner to the Romans. | 17Three days later he called together the local Jewish leaders. When they had assembled, Paul said to them: "My brothers, although I have done nothing against our people or against the customs of our ancestors, I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans. |
| 18When they had heard my case, they wanted to release me, because there was no basis for a death sentence against me. | 18They examined me and wanted to release me, because I was not guilty of any crime deserving death. |
| 19But when the Jews objected, I was forced to appeal to Caesar--not that I had some charge to bring against my own people. | 19The Jews objected, so I was compelled to make an appeal to Caesar. I certainly did not intend to bring any charge against my own people. |
| 20So for this reason I have asked to see you and speak with you, for I am bound with this chain because of the hope of Israel." | 20For this reason I have asked to see you and talk with you. It is because of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain." |
| 21They replied, "We have received no letters from Judea about you, nor have any of the brothers come from there and reported or said anything bad about you. | 21They replied, "We have not received any letters from Judea concerning you, and none of our people who have come from there has reported or said anything bad about you. |
| 22But we would like to hear from you what you think, for regarding this sect we know that people everywhere speak against it." | 22But we want to hear what your views are, for we know that people everywhere are talking against this sect." |
| 23They set a day to meet with him, and they came to him where he was staying in even greater numbers. From morning until evening he explained things to them, testifying about the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus from both the law of Moses and the prophets. | 23They arranged to meet Paul on a certain day, and came in even larger numbers to the place where he was staying. He witnessed to them from morning till evening, explaining about the kingdom of God, and from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets he tried to persuade them about Jesus. |
| 24Some were convinced by what he said, but others refused to believe. | 24Some were convinced by what he said, but others would not believe. |
| 25So they began to leave, unable to agree among themselves, after Paul made one last statement: "The Holy Spirit spoke rightly to your ancestors through the prophet Isaiah | 25They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: "The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your ancestors when he said through Isaiah the prophet: |
| 26when he said, 'Go to this people and say, "You will keep on hearing, but will never understand, and you will keep on looking, but will never perceive. | 26"'Go to this people and say, "You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving." |
| 27For the heart of this people has become dull, and their ears are hard of hearing, and they have closed their eyes, so that they would not see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them."' | 27For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.' |
| 28"Therefore be advised that this salvation from God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen!" | 28"Therefore I want you to know that God's salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!" |
| 30Paul lived there two whole years in his own rented quarters and welcomed all who came to him, | 30For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. |
| 31proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with complete boldness and without restriction. | 31He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ--with all boldness and without hindrance! |
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